More than £1.3million in funding has been awarded to businesses, social enterprises, and community organisations in the Cumberland authority. 

Cumberland Council, with the support of partners, has overseen the allocation of the grants which was received from the Government for the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF). 

Twenty-one businesses benefited from the Rural business support and tourism grants, which provided a total sum of £329,772.

Cultural, creative, heritage and leisure organisations acquired a total of £423,217 from seventeen grants distributed by the Copeland Community Fund.

The Copeland Community Fund also ensured eight local sports facilities and activities centres were catered for with a total funding of £87,100.

Furthermore, four green spaces were awarded £95,110 for improvement.

The Cumbria Community Foundation, working with the Cumbria Social Enterprise Partnership, provided £113,895 to seven social enterprises.

In boosting business growth, the foundation delivered £164,173 to nine organisations.

Also, an investment of £45,792 was pumped into digital inclusion, with a focus on enhancing essential digital skills, digital confidence, and online safety; while funding of £66,168 was dedicated to promoting volunteer and social action projects, benefitted by eight organisations.

Grants of up to £35,000 are still accessible under a new scheme - the High Street Building Grant Scheme.

The scheme prioritises supporting landlords and businesses moving into an empty property by financing up to 50 per cent of improvement costs, and aiding those needing funds for facelift works on their properties.

Leader of Cumberland Council, Cllr Mark Fryer, said:  "Dozens of businesses and organisations have benefited from the funding and more than £1.3 million has been granted so far.

"We would like to thank partners for their support and look forward to seeing these funded schemes develop in the future.” 

Cumberland Council has been allocated £10.5 million of UKSPF to spend over three financial years (2022-25) and £2.5 million of REPF to spend over two years (2023-25).